Kelly Pehrson is excited about his new position as Monticello City Manager. The native son leaves a successful banking career in Arizona to tackle a challenge in Monticello.

“I really enjoyed finance and small business before returning to Monticello and that is what I hope to focus on here,” said Pehrson. “The first priority is the budget. We need to find a way to balance the budget and find money for the community.”

Pehrson understands the struggles of balancing a budget. He worked in commercial real estate for Zions Bank and Bank of America before taking a position as Chief Credit Officer for a small community bank in Arizona, Republic Bank AZ. Republic Bank AZ is a small bank and the banking industry is in tough times, but Pehrson helped the company grow. In just a few years, Pehrson reports that bank assets increased by six times.

After a week on the job, Pehrson states that he has seen, first hand, many of the challenges that the city faces. “People have been great. I have been welcomed by many city residents,” he added.

Pehrson said that one of his goals is to help promote and support local businesses. “I hope to meet all the local businesses and see what the city can do to help them.”

Pehrson is excited to move to his hometown. “I want to raise my family here” is how he answers the question of why he accepted the job. “I love the outdoors; definitely golf, hunting and fishing,” he said. “And spending time with family.”

Pehrson has plenty of local family. He is the son of Jean and Mike Pehrson and has three children of his own, with wife Heidi. “Heidi is from Bountiful, UT and is also excited to be back in Utah.”

Pehrson attended the College of Eastern Utah and Utah State University before beginning his career. He has also earned a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix.

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